Thirds to george w



(No Model.)

E. W. SPEAR. OVERFLOW 011301: NOZZLE. .No. 396,376. Patented Jan. 15,1889.

F N B H FIG.

WITNESSES //v1/5/v TOR, 0 I W w a r I 5 7M Jit torney,

. M Q M N. FEYERS. Phaln-Lllhogrnphcr, Wahingtcn. D.C-

llnirn grass ATENT FHQEQ EPHRAIM \V. SPEAR, O11 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR OF TVVO- THIRDS TO GEORGE LAWLER AND JAMES L. SMITH, OF SAMEPLACE.

OVERFLOW-CHECK NOZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,376, dated January15, 1889.

Application filed August 18, 1888. Serial No. 283,097. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM \V. SPEAK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Overflow-Check Nozzles, of which the following is a fullspecification.

My invention consists of an improved overflow-check nozzle applicableespecially to oilcans and other such close receptacles having a nosethrough which the liquid is discharged. Mynozzle is so constructed, ashereinafter described, as to automatically stop the flow when the lampor other vessel into which the liquid is poured is full. At the sametime, by means of an acoustic indicator attached to the nozzle, amusical sound is produced during the discharge, which stops when theflow 2o ceases, thereby indicating that the vessel is full.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in section an oil-canfitted with my improved nozzle; and Fig. 2 shows the same in the act offilling a vessel, the surface of the liquid in the vessel being shown atthe point where the flow ceases.

A is the body of the can, to which is attached an automaticoverflow-check nozzle consisting of the nose -N, through which theliquid is discharged, and asmaller air-tube, B, preferably secured tothe nose N, and run ning from the outer end of the nose E into theinterior of the can and terminating, preferably, at a point opposite itspoint of en trance. To the inner end of the air-tube Bis attached theacoustic indicator 0, which, as shown in Fig. l, consists of a shortpiece of tube closed atits outer end, e, and having a reed, E,whichvibrates in a, slot along the upper side of the tube.

The operation of the nozzle is as follows: 'The can being inclined, asshown in Fig. 2, with the end of its nose N within the vessel G to befilled, liquid will flow out of the can into the vessel. To make theoutflow of the liquid continuous, air enters in a constant streamthrough the tube B, following thev principle of ordinary overflow-checknozzles of this class, displacing the liquid in the can A, and as theair enters the can through the slot covered by the reed E the latter iscaused to vibrate, and a musical sound is thus produced. hen, however,the surface of the liquid in the vessel to be filled reaches the levelof the outer end of the tube B,the flow immediately stops, because nomore air can enter the closed can A, it being, of course, understoodthat the cap of the can is firmly screwed down, so that the only meansfor air to enter is through the tube B. By this means it is impossiblefor the liquid to run over if the end of the nose is below the level ofthe top of the vessel to be filled, as the flow at once stops when thesurface of the liquid closes the air-tube. hen the flow of air ischecked, the musical sound at once ceases, and notice is thus given thatthe vessel is full. This acoustic indicator is especially useful whenopaque vessels are to be filledsuch as metal lamps, &c.where the oil orother liquid cannot be seen, and where, with ordinary oil-cans, there isconstant danger of overflowing. As long as the musical sound is heardthe operator knows that the liquid is flowing into the vessel, and assoon as the sound ceases he knows at once that the vessel is full andremoves the can therefrom.

I ordinarily employ a bracket, F, attached to the nose at such a heightas to determine the depth to which the end of the nozzle reaches in thelamp or other vessel. This bracket rests on the edge of the vessel in amanner readily understood by reference to. Fig. 1. The acousticattachment 0 is, moreover, particularly useful in cases where, throughcarelessness or otherwise, a little air might leak in, either throughthe cap L of the can or through some hole other than the airtube B, sothat even when the latter is closed by the liquid in the vessel enoughair will leak in to cause the flow to continue. In this case theoperator will know by the stopping of the musical sound that the vesselis full and will remove the canbe'fore any overflow 5 can occur.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shownas, forinstance, the air tube might be made in one piece, with thedischarge-nose either on the inside or the outside thereof, without inany way affecting the principle; or, if desired, a whistle or any othermusical device operated by a flow of air might be substituted for thereed herein shown. I prefer, however, to have the outlet of the air fromthe tube B into the can at or near the highest point within the can whenthe latter is in a position for filling a vessel.

I am aware that automatic overflow-check nozzles containing aliquid-discharge tube and an air-admitting tube are old and well known,and such I do not claim as my invention.

I claim- 1. An automatic overflow-check nozzle consisting of thecombination of a liquid-discharge nose, a separate ahr-admitt-ing tube,and an acoustic indicator, constructed. and arranged substantially asand for the purposes described.

EPHRAIM \V. SPEAR.

\Vitnesses:

WM. H. II. Dowsn, ALBERT E. LEACH.

